Working towards a safe, livable, and accessible Netherlands is a collective effort. Rijkswaterstaat understands that the challenges of today and tomorrow require a strong connection with universities and colleges.
In 2019, we started a collaboration with Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and the Centre of Expertise HR Tech (CoE HRTech). The goal: to develop knowledge and interest students in Rijkswaterstaat.
Together with Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, we conducted research on themes such as asset management, water quality, and smart shipping. The collaboration proved successful and is now being continued: last Tuesday (January 28, 2025), we signed a new framework agreement with Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences.
In the coming years, both parties will continue to work on research for future-proof assets.
Strong focus on practical research
The collaboration revolves around the connection between research, education, and practice. The studies provide valuable insights for policy, innovation, and implementation. The knowledge developed always aligns with our core tasks. Three themes have been central in recent years:
Asset management in the water sector
Research on improving the reliability of critical infrastructure such as the Maeslantkering.
Water quality and microplastics
Development of measurement methods for microplastics and the establishment of new policy guidelines.
Shipping (smart shipping)
Research into the consequences of autonomous shipping for waterway management, crew, and technology.
‘Collaboration with colleges is essential for the knowledge foundation of Rijkswaterstaat, for executing our tasks, and for attracting future professionals.’
Professionals of tomorrow
For us, it is crucial that students become enthusiastic about the field during their studies. This increases the chance that we will be able to attract scarce technical and IT professionals.
We work with knowledge institutions on research and actively involve students in the challenges of the organization. Think of contributions to a masters program, practical cases, and guest lectures.
This way, students become acquainted early with the diverse activities and challenges of Rijkswaterstaat. This increases their interest and hopefully leads them to work for us or with partners in the sector later.
‘What we are good at is bringing improvements in education together with students, which directly offers a solution for practice. Testing and experimenting, together with Rijkswaterstaat.’
Looking ahead
The new framework agreement offers room for expansion and deepening. In addition to the existing themes, new topics will be added, such as:
- Energy transition and transition in the port;
- Smart Maintenance from the Offshore Expertise Center;
- Climate adaptation.
The CoE HRTech programs will also work more intensively with MBO at the campus location. This also offers us opportunities to contribute to the MBO-HBO-WO collaboration line. This broader collaboration fits into our academic policy, which aims to stimulate practice-oriented research and prepare future professionals for the challenges of the sector.